Project #59501 - Five Minutes of Fame

22 English Tutors Online

Project: Five Minutes of Fame

Open your favorite magazine or webzine again. Think about interviews in newspapers and television/radio talk shows. Think about all the different ways interviews can be presented. Sometimes they look like script; sometimes they are funny or sarcastic; sometimes they have a photo-spread; sometimes the quotes are embedded, and the conclusions are more important than the person interviewed.

Look for all the different ways interviews are conveyed to audiences.

Think about how the writers/editors may have decided what to keep and what to edit out.

Think about how all the questions seem connected or in a logical order. Do you think they were asked that way?

Look and listen carefully for the analysis and commentary of the interviewer. Do they have an agenda or a message? What is it?

Give some thought to how you will present your finished interview to an audience. You may want to have someone else video-record your presentation, or you may want to take photos for a print layout. Look as some options below to decide how you will present your interview. You will choose one of these formats for your assignment. (Click each link to see a real life example.)

A. Magazine format

You may choose to present your interview in a magazine format. You can choose the best parts of the interview to go with photos and add commentary before and after the interview. Example:

Students: This article must be 750–1000 words, written in script format. Before and after the article, you must include a paragraph or two of commentary and analysis that will spin the interview for the audience. You must also include a photo layout (2–5 pictures) that enhances the article visually.

B. Newspaper format

You may choose a newspaper format and make the subject (the interviewee) the focus of the story, embedding direct quotes from the interview into the text of the article. Some examples:

Students: This article must be 500-750 words, written in paragraph form with embedded quotes. The analysis/commentary is the focus, with the interview proving your points. At least 50% of the text should be direct quotes. Include a single photo to enhance the article visually.

C. Radio talk show format

You may choose a radio talk show format. You can present an audio recording of the interview with a spoken introduction and conclusion. Some examples:

Students: Audio interviews should be edited to be 3-5 minutes in length. You will be expected to include your commentary/analysis in the actual interview. Your focus and spin will be evident in the question you ask, how you respond to the answers, and how you phrase the questions. You must also include an introduction and a conclusion to the interview.

D. Late night talk show format

You may choose a late-night talk show format and video tape the interview. You can edit it and add commentary if you have the skills (Note: this is an option for those already having the video skills to complete the assignment, as the skills are not taught in this course). Some examples:

Students: Videos should be edited to be 3-5 minutes in length. You will be expected to include your commentary/analysis in the actual interview. Your focus and spin will be evident in the sections you include and how you phrase the questions. You must also include an introduction and a conclusion to the interview.

Once you have selected a format, you are ready to begin "spinning" the interview story into a finished project.

When you are done, submit your article, audio, or video recording to the Project: Five Minutes of Fame link.